John Lennon crashes his car in Scotland

While holidaying in Scotland with Yoko Ono, her daughter Kyoko and his son Julian, John Lennon crashed his white British Leyland Austin Maxi car in Golspie in the Highlands.

Lennon was a notoriously bad driver who had rarely been behind the wheel since passing his test in 1965. He was poor at navigating roads and often failed to notice other traffic.

The roads around Golspie were narrow, and Lennon lost control of the car, driving it into a roadside ditch. He, Ono and Kyoko sustained cuts to the face and Ono's back was injured.

They were taken to Golspie's Lawson Memorial Hospital where Lennon was given 17 facial stitches, Ono 14 in her forehead, and Kyoko four.

Julian Lennon was treated for shock but was otherwise unhurt. He was taken to stay with Lennon's Aunt Mater in Durness, around 50 miles away, before his mother Cynthia took him back to London the following day. When she arrived at the hospital to demand an explanation from Lennon he refused to see her.

Lennon remained in hospital for five days. He later told reporters, "If you're going to have a car crash, try to arrange for it to happen in the Highlands. The hospital there was just great."

Although Lennon was never intending to attend, 1 July was the first official day of recording for what became the Abbey Road album. The crash further delayed his return to London, and after being discharged from hospital he spent three days at home before finally rejoining The Beatles on 9 July.

Yoko Ono suffered worse injuries in the crash than Lennon, and was pregnant at the time. Keen to keep a close eye on her wellbeing, he arranged for Harrods to deliver a double bed to the studio, and had a microphone suspended above it for her to add her thoughts during the sessions that followed.

7 responses on “John Lennon crashes his car in Scotland”

Hi!
Since the crash occurred in 1969 the car must have been an early 1500 with cable gearchange, I own a such car (unfortunately it is red, not white as John´s was) the more well known 1750 was not introduced until 1971

One other line gives the reason for split – John got Yoko a mic so she could add her thoughts during the sessions. I mean, what the heck was going through John’s head? I’m jamming with the lads who came up with such gems as Yesterday, Something, and Octopuses Garden… and sod that George Martin too… I’d rather know what Yoko thinks!!!! I’m surprised Paul hung around.

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